 A harvester makes it way down a row of cucumber plants in Dixon. The cucumbers will be trucked to a brining facility where they will be made into pickle chips and relish. Cucumbers and other processing vegetables had a total value of $4.2 million in 2018 representing a 50 percent rise over 2017, according to the latest Solano County Crop and Livestock Report.
Spotlight on Ag: Solano County Crop and Livestock Report an indicator of economic health
Economists are always looking for signals that tell them how the economy is doing and one of the lesser-known tools that is helpful is the annual crop report.
This week, the Board of Supervisors received a presentation from Interim Ag Commissioner Jose Arriaga who detailed the 2018 Crop and Livestock Report for the public. A highlight of this report is always the list of Top Ten Commodities, and this year an old commodity took the top spot, and it’s not a tree nut crop as we have seen dominate the list for several years.
Nursery products rose to Solano County’s number one ranking with a 2018 crop value of $43,248,000. If you are wondering how this relates to the overall health of the economy, a rise in nursery products being sold is attributable to a rise in commercial and residential building, as the Ag commissioner explained Tuesday. For example, by the start of the recession (2008) nursery products had dipped to a value of $43 million as building slowed, yet by 2010 had plummeted to $23 million. That market has now recovered and surpassed its 2008 value slightly.
Beyond that, the crop report offers a look into the overall health of unincorporated Solano County’s largest economic engine: Agriculture. The gross value of Ag production rose for a second year to $363,977,000 – a $9.4 million, or 2.7 percent increase over 2017. While some crops gained value and others lost value – some quite drastically – Solano County’s overall growth in Ag production value can largely be attributed to its diversity. Farmers and ranchers here grow more than 80 different commodities. These goods not only find their way onto the dinner tables of local residents, but feed folks across the United States and abroad. In 2018, Solano County commodities were exported to 31 countries.
The remaining Top Ten commodities include: Tomatoes ($34,720,000), Alfalfa ($31,746,000), Cattle and Calves ($30,367,000), Grapes ($29,404,000), Almonds ($29,299,000), Sunflower ($25,203,000), Walnuts ($25,133,000), Wheat ($7,580,000) and Prunes ($5,886,000).
Any of the top six crops could rise to the number one spot in any given year, according to Jose. That is a testament to our diversity and the fact that we have the land, water and climate for many of these crops, not to mention ten unique farming regions that stretch from the Montezuma Hills, to Suisun Valley and up to Winters. While market conditions will dictate what crops farmers choose to grow moving forward, it is important that farmers continue to have the room to operate. For decades, Solano County has had a Right to Farm ordinance on the books and thanks to Solano County voters, the General Plan has ensured that urban development occurs in the cities and agriculture and open space is protected.
Putting together the annual Crop and Livestock Report is a large undertaking by the Ag Department and really doesn’t happen without the support and participation of our farmers and ranchers. Thank you to all involved.
To view the 2018 Crop and Livestock report, or any historical Crop and Livestock Report dating back to 1949, visit https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/agriculture/default.asp.
Spotlight on Ag is a recurring segment highlighting agriculture in Solano County.
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Since 2003, Supervisor John M. Vasquez has had the privilege to represent the 4th Supervisorial District covering Northern Solano County. The district includes portions of Vacaville and Dixon. |
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